Vehicle Recall IndexVIN decoding & NHTSA recall records

Model year 2016 · Kia

2016 Kia Sorento recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 8 safety recall campaigns for the 2016 Kia Sorento — 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. The most recent was reported on September 19, 2022. Campaigns are matched by the model names in NHTSA's records: SORENTO.

NHTSA data through October 6, 2026 · How these pages are built

Campaigns at a glance

Recall campaigns for the 2016 Kia Sorento, newest first
NHTSA numberReportedComponent
22V703000September 19, 2022Trailer HitchesPark outside
22V612000August 10, 2022Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever And Linkage › Column Shift
18V907000December 19, 2018Engine
16V862000November 30, 2016Electrical System
16V770000October 24, 2016Seats
16V480000June 29, 2016Suspension › Rear
15V446000July 14, 2015Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
15V089000February 13, 2015Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal

Systems involved: Trailer Hitches (2) · Electrical System (1) · Engine (1) · Fuel System, Gasoline (1) · Power Train (1) · Seat Belts (1) · Seats (1) · Suspension (1) · Vehicle Speed Control (1)

Recall records

NHTSA 22V703000Manufacturer no. SC249

Trailer Hitches

Park outside advisory

Report received by NHTSA
September 19, 2022
Owner notification
July 27, 2023
Recall initiated by
Manufacturer
Units potentially affected
70,887 (whole campaign)
Model names in the NHTSA record
SORENTO

Defect summary

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

Safety risk

A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 22V703000, filed by Kia America, Inc.. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 22V612000Manufacturer no. SC246

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever And Linkage › Column Shift

Report received by NHTSA
August 10, 2022
Owner notification
October 7, 2022
Recall initiated by
Manufacturer
Units potentially affected
28,065 (whole campaign)
Model names in the NHTSA record
SORENTO

Defect summary

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016 Sedona and Sorento vehicles. The vehicles may have been manufactured with faulty automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, preventing the shift lever from locking, which can allow the vehicle to rollaway.

Safety risk

A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash and injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 7, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC246.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 22V612000, filed by Kia America, Inc.. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 18V907000Manufacturer no. SC172

Engine

Report received by NHTSA
December 19, 2018
Owner notification
January 17, 2019
Recall initiated by
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Units potentially affected
71,653 (whole campaign)
Build dates listed for the 2016 Kia Sorento
April 19, 2011 – November 23, 2016
Model names in the NHTSA record
SORENTO

Components: Engine; Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Defect summary

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

Safety risk

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 18V907000, filed by Kia Motors America. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 16V862000Manufacturer no. SC142

Electrical System

Report received by NHTSA
November 30, 2016
Owner notification
January 19, 2017
Recall initiated by
Manufacturer
Units potentially affected
10,212 (whole campaign)
Build dates listed for the 2016 Kia Sorento
October 27, 2014 – August 25, 2016
Model names in the NHTSA record
SORENTO

Components: Electrical System; Trailer Hitches

Defect summary

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Sorento vehicles manufactured October 27, 2014, to August 25, 2016, and 2017 Sportage vehicles manufactured December 10, 2015, to August 26, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Safety risk

If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC142.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 16V862000, filed by Kia Motors America. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 16V770000Manufacturer no. SC140

Seats

Report received by NHTSA
October 24, 2016
Owner notification
December 9, 2016
Recall initiated by
Manufacturer
Units potentially affected
1,408 (whole campaign)
Build dates listed for the 2016 Kia Sorento
March 5, 2016 – March 15, 2016
Model names in the NHTSA record
SORENTO

Defect summary

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured March 3, 2016 to March 21, 2016. The driver's seatback frame may have been produced with inadequate weld joints and, as a result, the seatback may not function as designed in the event of a rear-end collision.

Safety risk

In the event of a crash, the driver seatback frame could break and fail to restrain a seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds and replace the driver seatback frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 9, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC140.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 16V770000, filed by Kia Motors America. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 16V480000Manufacturer no. SC137

Suspension › Rear

Report received by NHTSA
June 29, 2016
Owner notification
July 27, 2016
Recall initiated by
Manufacturer
Units potentially affected
7,901 (whole campaign)
Model names in the NHTSA record
SORENTO

Defect summary

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sorento vehicles. A component of the rear suspension may not be properly welded.

Safety risk

The improper weld may break, affecting the rear suspension alignment, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds at the rear suspension cross-member, replacing the rear cross-member assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service Department at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC137.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 16V480000, filed by Kia Motors America. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 15V446000Manufacturer no. SC123

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly

Report received by NHTSA
July 14, 2015
Owner notification
August 18, 2015
Recall initiated by
Manufacturer
Units potentially affected
2,587 (whole campaign)
Build dates listed for the 2016 Kia Sorento
October 23, 2014 – December 10, 2014
Model names in the NHTSA record
SORENTO

Defect summary

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured October 23, 2014, to December 10, 2014. The affected vehicles have a front passenger seat belt whose buckle latch assembly may prevent the front passenger from fastening the seat belt.

Safety risk

If the front passenger seat belt cannot be latched, an occupant sitting in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt buckle cover, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC123.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 15V446000, filed by Kia Motors America. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 15V089000Manufacturer no. SC115

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal

Report received by NHTSA
February 13, 2015
Owner notification
February 20, 2015
Recall initiated by
Manufacturer
Units potentially affected
12,361 (whole campaign)
Build dates listed for the 2016 Kia Sorento
October 27, 2014 – January 29, 2015
Model names in the NHTSA record
SORENTO

Defect summary

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sorento vehicles manufactured October 27, 2014, to January 29, 2015. Due to an improperly soldered component in the accelerator pedal assembly, the driver may not be able to accelerate the vehicle.

Safety risk

If the vehicle is unable to be accelerated, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 19, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC115.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 15V089000, filed by Kia Motors America. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

Records reproduce NHTSA's published text for each campaign. Last record date for this page: September 20, 2022.